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I watched this show during the first season, but haven't watched in a while. The show interested me, because it has a young gay character and an older one. I just read here on poz.com that the show revealed in the season finale a character living with HIV, but who is a LTNP. It is good to see HIV discussed on TV again. I haven't seen much of that for years. I'm not sure I can remember a recurring HIV poz character on a show.

MODIFIED: As I read the article again, I realized I missed something important. The character first reports he tested negative. However, he is in a car wreck and bloody and tells people to not touch him. It seems they must be doing some kind of HIV cliff-hanger?? I'm not sure how I feel about that. I guess I'll have to go to ABC.com to watch the episode.

I am a fan favorite of this show. My mother also watches it and thinks it is wonderful that Kevin & Scottie have such a loving wonderful relationship. I had to explain to her that it was only TV and many of us live normal lives without beautiful boyfriends or lavish gay lifestyles. I am sure that Saul's + disclosure will shake up some viewers. I hope it will encourage more older people to get tested.Peace,Billy

It seems they must be doing some kind of HIV cliff-hanger?? I'm not sure how I feel about that. I guess I'll have to go to ABC.com to watch the episode.

It is not a cliffhanger. Saul tells his sister Nora his test came back negative because he obviously can't deal with the result. You can see by the expression on his face after Nora turns away that he has lied to her and then when he insists that no one can touch him because he has blood all over his hands it is obvious to everyone. I think the writers are doing a good job at illustrating that Saul and Kevin & Scottie may all be gay but the generation gap has made a big difference in how their lives are playing out. I especially liked how Kevin & Scottie get tested regularly where Saul has never been tested and freaks out at the idea.

I'm a fan of the show. It's basically a soap opera but I like the characters and story lines. Ron Rifkin, who plays Saul, was great in the show. He's a veteran NY stage actor and they finally gave him something to do.

I was thinking recently that there are not enough HIV+ characters in TV and movies so this is a step in the right direction.

I suppose when he made the phone call to the testing place in front of Nora, he was "faking" the call, because obviusly, if they had told him he was positive, they wouldn't have just said "You're positive, goodbye". That's how they told me back in 1987, but I don't think they would do that now. The show wasn't real clear on that....but I did take it to mean that he was positive because he didn't want anyone to touch his bloody hands after the car accident.

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"Remember my sentimental friend that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others." - The Wizard of Oz

It is not a cliffhanger. Saul tells his sister Nora his test came back negative because he obviously can't deal with the result. You can see by the expression on his face after Nora turns away that he has lied to her and then when he insists that no one can touch him because he has blood all over his hands it is obvious to everyone. I think the writers are doing a good job at illustrating that Saul and Kevin & Scottie may all be gay but the generation gap has made a big difference in how their lives are playing out. I especially liked how Kevin & Scottie get tested regularly where Saul has never been tested and freaks out at the idea.

I like this tear jerking melodrama soupy music of a a series very much. However, I don't buy your generational analysis. As far as I understand Saul was in denial for decades and dated women, as well. But he was a young man in a time of gay liberation and there was no need for him to stay in the closet to his silver fox years, really His old bf from a year or two ago was dated back to sweet youth.

As for HIV, I think one is at risk at ANY age and I think that ANY age can have guys who refuse to test, even now. Saul's denial is individual, not generational, in this viewer's opinion. Also, the series will milk anything. Its constant drama in the Walker world.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

As for HIV, I think one is at risk at ANY age and I think that ANY age can have guys who refuse to test, even now. Saul's denial is individual, not generational, in this viewer's opinion. Also, the series will milk anything. Its constant drama in the Walker world.

Of course anyone can refuse to test but Saul points out there is a generational difference between gay men. Being gay now is very different than in 1970 and I think the writers are smart to point that out. Saul, as an individual, was in denial and secretive about his sexuality and now he has the same approach to HIV.

I think HIV would make a fascinating plot line for one of those crime drama shows.

You know for CSI or something like that.

Not absolutely certain, but I THINK it has.

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

No really? I wonder which CSI franchise it was? Personally I think it would work best with CSI:NY.

Not sure.....

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It's all a sham. Politics is a big game, same as the media - and same as religion. The point is to distract & control. If we're looking at what they tell us is the "big issue", we're not looking at what they are doing. In time, there will be different causes and different minorities to pick-on. All in the name of keeping the system going, and the people distracted.

I think HIV would make a fascinating plot line for one of those crime drama shows.

You know for CSI or something like that.

MtD

Hearted.

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"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

When I saw the thread title I combined Brenda/Sarah and remember Brenda's sex addict phase in 6 Feet Under so assumed it was her, since she's the gay Walker. Saul is kinda neutered (and not a Walker) and Kevin seems to be a cute straight rugby playing welsh actor acting all gay american. Also Brenda/Sarah as an actual woman character would be a nice twist on the HIV is a gay disease meme.

« Last Edit: May 20, 2010, 12:50:41 AM by mecch »

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

I suppose when he made the phone call to the testing place in front of Nora, he was "faking" the call, because obviusly, if they had told him he was positive, they wouldn't have just said "You're positive, goodbye". That's how they told me back in 1987, but I don't think they would do that now. The show wasn't real clear on that....but I did take it to mean that he was positive because he didn't want anyone to touch his bloody hands after the car accident.

I watched it and I viewed it the same way--that he faked it on the phone call and at the accident scene he affirmed his true status. Unfortunately, that fake phone call may mislead some viewers to believe they can call to get HIV test results. On a good note, I think the show deserves high marks for their inclusion of many physical and mental health issues and lifestyles of all sorts.

I think the stats percentages show what fraction of the posts on that board you created / which boards your voice is most prominent in (e.g. about 1 in 6 posts in AM I is yours and about 1 in 17 CSI posts). It kind of a misnomer that it is labeled "Most Popular Boards by Activity" since it doesn't mean 6.5% of your posts (your activity) were in that forum -- it should probably say "Board Presence" or somthing .

I think the stats percentages show what fraction of the posts on that board you created / which boards your voice is most prominent in (e.g. about 1 in 6 posts in AM I is yours and about 1 in 17 CSI posts). It kind of a misnomer that it is labeled "Most Popular Boards by Activity" since it doesn't mean 6.5% of your posts (your activity) were in that forum -- it should probably say "Board Presence" or somthing .

A (numbers geek)

There is another stat section in one's profile that records most popular by post:

I think the CSI forum ended up on my most popular by activity stats because for the entire time that forum was up and running, I had a separate window opened to it that I was constantly refreshing. We didn't know what kind of crazies that forum might attract, so we monitored it very closely.

I think that no other forum ever overtook it because for quite some time now, I only go into a main forum page (other than Am I) when I want to look for a specific thread that is already marked as read for me. Otherwise, I only really use the "show all unread" page.

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

I think thst the show allowed for a vital and overlooked part of HIV He did not say or wasw it said Everyone assumes because of his behavior that he's positive and he is assuming he's positive but no actual disclosure is done but alot of jumping to nonfactual judgments were made by forum writers. He was behaving as a tv character adding suspense but your judgments scare me.

I think thst the show allowed for a vital and overlooked part of HIV He did not say or wasw it said Everyone assumes because of his behavior that he's positive and he is assuming he's positive but no actual disclosure is done but alot of jumping to nonfactual judgments were made by forum writers. He was behaving as a tv character adding suspense but your judgments scare me.

What about the "judgements" scare you? Seems to be a reasonable guess on where they are heading with this character, given everything that transpired before the accident.

Not to mention that the accident scene includes violence and death to other characters, and that Saul's fear of spreading HIV because he's bleeding may or may not be realistic epidemiology.

it may or may not be realistic epidemiology, but it seems like a pretty realistic reaction for someone who (may have) just found out that he is HIV+. I used to panic a bit whenever I bled for quite some time after getting my diagnosis -- even though I knew better.

it may or may not be realistic epidemiology, but it seems like a pretty realistic reaction for someone who (may have) just found out that he is HIV+. I used to panic a bit whenever I bled for quite some time after getting my diagnosis -- even though I knew better.Mike

Yes point taken.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx

"...health will finally be seen not as a blessing to be wished for, but as a human right to be fought for." Kofi Annan

Nymphomaniac: a woman as obsessed with sex as an average man. Mignon McLaughlin

HIV is certainly character-building. It's made me see all of the shallow things we cling to, like ego and vanity. Of course, I'd rather have a few more T-cells and a little less character. Randy Shilts

In fact in french the work is "plomb" lead, and plomber the verb (to fill with lead) means transmit HIV. plombe the adjective (leaded) means HIV+. Clean means HIV-. Shoot leaden sperm everyday and you get the heebie jeebies for a moment. The only thing that took that way for me is that I started HAART so quickly. Small benefit. I no longer felt leaded. Biohazard.

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“From each, according to his ability; to each, according to his need” 1875 K Marx